Coverage extension and reliability enhancement for reduced capability devices

Abstract

Methods provided herein include extending coverage for a group of devices. The method includes maintaining a default block error rate (BLER) target and lowering the default BLER target to an adjusted BLER target for a specific device type. The method further includes applying the adjusted BLER target to the specific device type, thereby extending coverage for the specific device type. The method further includes generating and transmitting new information elements to extend coverage and allow access for the specific type.

1 . A method comprising:
 maintaining a default block error rate (BLER) target;   lowering the default BLER target to an adjusted BLER target for a specific device type; and   applying the adjusted BLER target to the specific device type, thereby extending coverage for the specific device type.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the adjusted BLER target for uplink BLER. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the adjusted BLER target for both downlink and uplink BLER. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying the default BLER target to enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) devices. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using a particular modulation coding scheme (MCS) table to further extend coverage for the specific device type. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specific device type is a reduced capability (RedCap) device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the default BLER target is 10% and the adjusted BLER target is 2%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising creating information elements (IEs) for cell access for the specific device type. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising creating IEs for random access channel (RACH) and cell reselection between new radio (NR) carriers. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a memory storing data and instructions; and   a processor accessing the stored data and executing the stored instructions to perform operations including;
 providing a first block error rate (BLER) target for a first group of devices; 
 providing a second BLER target for a second group of devices, wherein the second BLER target is lower than the first BLER target and the second group of devices includes reduced capability (RedCap) devices; and 
 applying the second BLER target to the second group of devices to extend coverage for the second group of devices. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , the operations further comprising applying the second BLER target to the second group of devices for uplink BLER. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , the operations further comprising applying the second BLER target to the second group of devices for both uplink BLER and downlink BLER. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first BLER target is between 8% and 12% and the second BLER target is between 1% and 3%. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising transmitting information elements (IEs) for cell access for the RedCap devices. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , the IEs comprising random access channel (RACH) and cell reselection IEs. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first group of devices includes enhanced mobile Broadband (eMBB) devices. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 providing a first block error rate (BLER) target for a first group of devices including enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) devices;
 providing a second BLER target for a second group of devices, wherein the second BLER target is lower than the first BLER target and the second group of devices includes reduced capability (RedCap) devices; and 
 applying the second BLER target to the second group of devices to extend coverage for the second group of devices. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising providing information elements (IEs) comprising random access channel (RACH) and cell reselection IEs for the second group of devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising applying the second BLER target to the second group of devices for at least uplink BLER. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first BLER target is between 8% and 12% and the second BLER target is between 1% and 3%.